Learjet 35 cpr captain mistook heading change for altitude and descended from assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	527821
Time
Date	200110
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zfw.artcc
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm Turbulence
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc artcc : zfw.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Learjet 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	527821
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Captain initiated a descent out of FL310 to FL250. Aircraft was instructed to turn to 250 degrees. First officer changed heading bug to 250 degrees and verbalized '250' in cockpit. First officer continued duties of putting approach plates in order. Captain did not do standard behavior -- he changed the altitude preselect, he did not acknowledge the change in preselect. He wasn't wearing a headset. Aircraft was not equipped with intercom. This was my first and last trip with this company. I found serious deficiencies with their flight department. No sops. No respect for aircraft limitations, ie, over-boost N1, during takeoff roll. Captain would firewall throttles on takeoff. Captain did not wear headsets, even though it was apparent to me he had difficulties hearing. I guess his age about 58-63 old. Captain had difficulty managing a 2-PERSON crew. Responsibilities were blurred, no clear direction. He would not delegate duties. Long duty day, ending in an area of severe thunderstorms (level 4-6). Duty day exceeded 14 hours, due to company greed and lack of professionals in the dispatch department. Crew was notified by ATC of the improper altitude. Next controller gave us a phone number to call. We were told of the altitude deviation report to be filed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LEARJET 35 CPR CAPT MISTOOK HEADING CHANGE FOR ALT AND DSNDED FROM ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: CAPT INITIATED A DSCNT OUT OF FL310 TO FL250. ACFT WAS INSTRUCTED TO TURN TO 250 DEGS. FO CHANGED HEADING BUG TO 250 DEGS AND VERBALIZED '250' IN COCKPIT. FO CONTINUED DUTIES OF PUTTING APCH PLATES IN ORDER. CAPT DID NOT DO STANDARD BEHAVIOR -- HE CHANGED THE ALT PRESELECT, HE DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE CHANGE IN PRESELECT. HE WASN'T WEARING A HEADSET. ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH INTERCOM. THIS WAS MY FIRST AND LAST TRIP WITH THIS COMPANY. I FOUND SERIOUS DEFICIENCIES WITH THEIR FLT DEPT. NO SOPS. NO RESPECT FOR ACFT LIMITATIONS, IE, OVER-BOOST N1, DURING TKOF ROLL. CAPT WOULD FIREWALL THROTTLES ON TKOF. CAPT DID NOT WEAR HEADSETS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS APPARENT TO ME HE HAD DIFFICULTIES HEARING. I GUESS HIS AGE ABOUT 58-63 OLD. CAPT HAD DIFFICULTY MANAGING A 2-PERSON CREW. RESPONSIBILITIES WERE BLURRED, NO CLR DIRECTION. HE WOULD NOT DELEGATE DUTIES. LONG DUTY DAY, ENDING IN AN AREA OF SEVERE TSTMS (LEVEL 4-6). DUTY DAY EXCEEDED 14 HRS, DUE TO COMPANY GREED AND LACK OF PROFESSIONALS IN THE DISPATCH DEPT. CREW WAS NOTIFIED BY ATC OF THE IMPROPER ALT. NEXT CTLR GAVE US A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL. WE WERE TOLD OF THE ALTDEV RPT TO BE FILED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.